Major Police Blitz Set to Hit Some Roads Very Soon

While it’s never a good idea to be distracted while you’re driving, you’ll want to be extra attentive on OPP-patrolled roads very soon.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are conducting a distracted driving campaign from March 12-18, 2018 on OPP-patrolled roads.

According to police, the inattentive driver has remained the deadliest kind of driver on OPP-patrolled roads for the fifth consecutive year.

“By now, the majority of drivers and passengers have witnessed, had a close call or been involved in a collision with a driver who was texting, talking on their cell phone or engaged in some other form of distraction,” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair, Provincial Commander of Traffic Safety and Operational Support. “Last year, the OPP responded to 8,711 crashes that were linked to driver inattention.”

That’s not all - police say that inattentive drivers were behind 83 road fatalities in 2017 on OPP-patrolled roads. That’s more than speed-related deaths (75), alcohol/drug-related deaths (46) and those that are linked to lack of seat belt use (49).

“Since 2009 (the year Ontario Distracted Driving laws took effect), 692 have been killed on OPP-patrolled roads in collisions that involved an inattentive driver,” said the OPP in a recent statement.

DIDYOUKNOW?

If convicted of distracted driving, a fully licenced driver will receive:

a fine of $400, plus a victim surcharge and court fee, for a total of $490 if settled out of court

fine of up to $1,000 if you receive a summons or fight your ticket

three demerit points applied to your driver’s record

Drivers who endanger others because of any distraction, including hand-held and hands-free devices, may still be charged with Careless Driving under the Highway Traffic Act or even Dangerous Driving under the Criminal Code of Canada. Both charges carry heavy fines and penalties.